{"id":227932,"date":"2016-11-04T14:00:15","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=227932"},"modified":"2016-11-04T09:03:55","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T16:03:55","slug":"meditation-on-trash-talk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/meditation-on-trash-talk\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditation on Trash Talk"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Colin Hogan, Swimming World College Intern<\/em><\/p>\n

Trash talk: you either love it or you love to hate it.<\/p>\n

No matter your opinion on it, big-mouthed banter reigns as the second most competitive element\u00a0of organized sports, only behind the athletic contest itself. Proudly and unsurprisingly, the fans\u00a0are the most\u00a0ruthless trash-talkers\u00a0because all the\u00a0unruly bleacher creatures only have so much at stake– pride and the price of their tickets, at the most.<\/p>\n

That’s why\u00a0when the athletes get involved in a snarly exchange, even the most pleasant of spectators grab the popcorn and settle into their seats. Endorsements, contracts, playing time are all on the line. What was previously the field, the pool or the court transforms into the stage. Players are off-script, and we can’t help but be fascinated with\u00a0the\u00a0test of character that’s different than the one we showed up to see.<\/p>\n

\"gary_payton_mj_trash_talk\"

Gary Payton and Michael Jordan, two of the most prolific trash talkers in NBA history. Photo Courtesy: welcometoloudcity.com<\/p><\/div>\n

For the American sports fan, this is a great time of year. Before the Cubs and Indians finished playing ball late Wednesday night, all four of the largest American sports leagues were operating at the same time. And there’s been plenty of dramatic dialogue to accompany.<\/p>\n

Whether you’re a baseball fan in the wrong city<\/a> or a basketball player back in your old city<\/a>, trash talk follows sports like Ernie follows Bert<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Usually, swimming\u00a0escapes the trappings of talking trash, and it’s proud to do so. Why wouldn’t it be? Trash talk is a pastime that’s basically the adult version of bullying.\u00a0Besides, there isn’t an\u00a0opportunity at a swim meet for a colloquial exchange\u00a0with your opponent like in basketball when a defensive assignment requires that you really get to know someone in\u00a0a different color jersey.<\/p>\n

As for the fans, well… the only fan at my swim meets is my mom, and I couldn’t accuse her of anything so vile.<\/p>\n

But before we pretend that chlorine does holy water make, let’s remember that in the past year swimming has produced\u00a0some of the most awesome instances of trash talk in recent memory. And we all ate\u00a0it up.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Lovely Lilly and the Finger-Wag Heard\u00a0‘Round the World<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Dean Lewis \/ EPA in Los Angeles Times<\/p><\/div>\n

American breaststroker and Hoosier heroine Lilly King<\/strong> burst into popular consciousness after her comments about the\u00a0doping allegations against\u00a0her Russian competitor, Yulia Efimova<\/strong>; then King\u00a0followed it up\u00a0with a gold medal performance to boot. But as it goes with speaking the refuse, n<\/a>ot everyone was happy about it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ms. King found her theater in the pre-race ready room, where broadcasting cameras captured her wagging a Dikembe Mutumbo-like finger at the image of the Russian on a television monitor. In the post-race interview minutes later, she explained her actions saying she was “not a fan.”<\/p>\n

That same ready room was recycled to play a part in the drama between 2012 gold medalist, the South African, Chad le Clos<\/strong> and his up-and-coming challenger, Mike Phelps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Old Man and the C. le Clos: The\u00a0#PhelpsFace Saga<\/strong><\/h2>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/Lucy_McCaleb\/status\/778408188873891840<\/p>\n

In this rare moment, swim culture transcended into pop culture. Everyone in the office the next day was talking about the Phelps face. Social media memed the scowl, granting it a hashtag. And Phelps, like Lilly King, delivered: he beat his competitor in the semi and brought home the gold the next day.<\/p>\n

Unlike King, however, Phelps was utterly silent. It was le Clos who was responsible for all the chatter and all the posturing. Phelps came out on top in the court of public opinion by letting his walking do the talking. And the legend of Phelps face continues into a commercialization phase, thanks to a recent spot for Intel.<\/p>\n